The complete Model Diplomat course library. Every course is 20 lessons , averaging ~4 hours of structured learning.
How prerequisites work. The platform doesn’t hard-lock courses behind others — you can start any course at any time. But most categories have a natural path: Beginner → Intermediate → Advanced . Each category below lists a Recommended order so you know what to take first if you’re new to the subject. “Use it for” columns tell you who each course is built for and when to reach for it.
Model United Nations 🏛️ Master every aspect of Model UN — from first-time delegate to award-winning chair.
Recommended order: MUN Delegate Fundamentals → Public Speaking for MUN → Research & Country Analysis → Position Paper Masterclass → Parliamentary Procedure → Resolution Writing → Crisis Committee → MUN Conference Strategy → Security Council Simulation → Chairing & Dais Skills.Course Level Use it for MUN Delegate Fundamentals Beginner Your first-ever conference. Start here if you’ve never been a delegate. Public Speaking for MUN Beginner Delivering speeches and moderated caucus points with confidence. Take after Fundamentals. Research & Country Analysis Intermediate Building a strong country position before a conference. Pair with Atlas research. Position Paper Masterclass Intermediate Writing award-winning position papers. Take after Research & Country Analysis. Resolution Writing Intermediate Drafting resolutions that pass — clauses, amendments, sponsor strategy. Parliamentary Procedure Intermediate Using motions, points, and rules strategically in committee. Crisis Committee Intermediate Preparing for crisis committees — directives, arcs, and backroom moves. MUN Conference Strategy Intermediate Winning awards — bloc building, negotiation, and what chairs actually look for. Security Council Simulation Advanced Representing a P5 or E10 in SC. Requires solid fundamentals + procedure. Chairing & Dais Skills Advanced Chairing a committee as a dais member. Take after several delegate seasons.
Debate & Speech 🎤 Competitive debate formats, mock trial advocacy, and public speaking.
Recommended order: Intro to Competitive Debate → Public Speaking Foundations → Evidence Cutting → Debate Case Writing → then your chosen format (LD / PF / Policy / BP) → Cross-Examination Mastery. Mock Trial is a parallel track.Course Level Use it for Introduction to Competitive Debate Beginner The first course for anyone new to debate. Covers argumentation fundamentals. Public Speaking Foundations Beginner Delivery skills that apply to debate, MUN, presentations, and professional settings. Evidence Cutting & Research Beginner Building evidence files — essential for Policy, LD, and PF. Introduction to Mock Trial Beginner Mock trial competitors — openings, directs, crosses, closings. Debate Case Writing Intermediate Constructing affirmative and negative cases. Take after Intro + Evidence Cutting. Lincoln-Douglas Debate Intermediate LD-specific training: values, frameworks, philosophical clash. Public Forum Debate Intermediate PF-specific training: current events, team dynamics, summary speeches. British Parliamentary Intermediate BP format: four teams, extension, whip speeches. Common in worlds-style circuits. Cross-Examination Mastery Intermediate Sharpening cross-ex for any format. Take after at least one format-specific course. Policy Debate Advanced Policy-specific: plans, counterplans, kritiks, topicality. Evidence-heavy.
Professional Skills 💼 Negotiation, persuasion, writing, and communication skills for any career.
Recommended order: Negotiation Fundamentals → Persuasion & Influence → Cross-Cultural Communication → Policy Brief Writing → Advanced Negotiation → Conflict Resolution → Stakeholder Mapping → Crisis Management → Media & Press Relations → Multilateral Negotiation.Course Level Use it for Negotiation Fundamentals Beginner Anyone negotiating anything — BATNA, anchoring, interests vs. positions. Persuasion & Influence Beginner Changing minds in writing, speech, or meetings. Psychology-first. Cross-Cultural Communication Beginner Working across cultures — international careers, MUN delegations, global teams. Policy Brief Writing Beginner Writing for decision-makers — staffers, analysts, think-tank researchers. Advanced Negotiation Intermediate Multi-party deals and power asymmetry. Take after Negotiation Fundamentals. Conflict Resolution Intermediate Mediation and de-escalation — HR, diplomacy, community work. Crisis Management Intermediate Leading under pressure — decision-making and communication in emergencies. Media & Press Relations Intermediate Spokespeople, press conferences, on-record/off-record strategy. Stakeholder Mapping Intermediate Campaign organizers, policy advocates, product managers — anyone influencing decisions. Multilateral Negotiation Advanced Multi-party institutional bargaining — UN, EU, coalition building. Requires Advanced Negotiation first.
Elections & Democracy 🗳️ How elections work, campaigns, voting systems, parties, and political ideologies.
Recommended order: How Elections Work → Political Ideologies → Understanding Campaigns → Voting Rights → Comparative Electoral Systems → Political Parties Worldwide → Money in Politics → Polling & Prediction → Direct Democracy → Populism & Democratic Backsliding.Course Level Use it for How Elections Work Beginner Everyone voting or studying elections. Start here for the category. Political Ideologies Beginner Understanding left/right and the ideas behind policy debates. Understanding Campaigns Beginner Curious voters, aspiring campaign staff, political science students. Voting Rights & Election Integrity Beginner Civics teachers, activists, journalists covering elections. Comparative Electoral Systems Intermediate Comparing PR / FPTP / ranked-choice across countries. Take after How Elections Work. Direct Democracy Intermediate Referendums, citizen assemblies, participatory budgeting. Money in Politics Intermediate Campaign finance researchers, journalists, reform advocates. Political Parties Worldwide Intermediate Comparing party systems across democracies. Polling & Election Prediction Intermediate Journalists, data-curious readers, poll consumers. Populism & Democratic Backsliding Intermediate Understanding threats to democracy. Take after How Elections Work + Ideologies.
Government & Policy 🏛️ How government works, how laws are made, and how policy shapes society.
Recommended order: How Government Works → How Laws Are Made → pick your country system (US / UK / EU / India / China) → Policy Analysis 101 → Lobbying & Advocacy → Constitutional Design.Course Level Use it for How Government Works Beginner Civics foundation — branches, separation of powers. Start here. How Laws Are Made Beginner Anyone watching legislation move — from bill to statute. The US Political System Intermediate Understanding Congress, the presidency, and the courts in depth. The UK Political System Intermediate Parliament, PMQs, devolution, constitutional conventions. The EU: How It Works Intermediate Navigating Commission / Parliament / Council. Essential for EU-focused MUN. India’s Democracy Intermediate Understanding the world’s largest democracy — elections, federalism, identity politics. China’s Political System Intermediate How the CCP, state, and government interact. Essential for China-focused analysis. Policy Analysis 101 Intermediate Evaluating policy proposals — staffers, think-tank researchers, MUN prep. Lobbying & Advocacy Intermediate NGO workers, advocates, lobbyists, curious citizens. Constitutional Design Intermediate Comparing how constitutions are architected. Take after How Government Works.
Global Affairs 🌍 International relations, diplomacy, conflict, security, and how countries interact.
Recommended order: Intro to International Relations → History of the UN → Multilateral Institutions → Conflict & Security → Climate Diplomacy → specialty topics (Cyber, Global Health, Migration, Space & Arctic) → Nuclear Nonproliferation.Course Level Use it for Introduction to International Relations Beginner Essential foundation for MUN, Global Affairs courses, and IR majors. Start here. Climate Diplomacy Beginner COP prep, climate committee MUN, anyone following climate negotiations. History of the United Nations Beginner Essential for MUN delegates — context on every committee you’ll ever sit in. Multilateral Institutions Beginner Understanding the UN, WTO, IMF, NATO, EU, ASEAN, AU at a system level. Conflict & Security Intermediate Why wars happen and how they end. Take after Intro to IR. Cyber Governance Intermediate Cyber policy, digital sovereignty debates, DISEC prep. Global Health Governance Intermediate Pandemics, WHO debates, global health MUN committees. Migration & Refugees Intermediate UNHCR MUN, migration policy, humanitarian work. Space & Arctic Geopolitics Intermediate Frontier geopolitics — SPECPOL, climate council, space committees. Nuclear Nonproliferation Advanced DISEC and IAEA MUN, arms control researchers. Take after Intro to IR + Conflict & Security.
Law & Rights ⚖️ International law, human rights, courts, and how justice works across borders.
Recommended order: Human Rights → International Law Basics → Humanitarian Law / Refugee Law / Law of the Sea → ICJ → ICC → Treaty-Making → Digital Rights / Criminal Justice (parallel tracks).Course Level Use it for Human Rights Beginner Foundation for any Law & Rights topic. Essential for UNHRC and SOCHUM MUN. International Law Basics Intermediate Treaties, customary law, enforcement — foundation for everything else in the category. International Humanitarian Law Intermediate The laws of war — Geneva Conventions. Essential for conflict-focused committees. Refugee Law Intermediate 1951 Convention, non-refoulement. Take with Migration & Refugees for depth. Law of the Sea Intermediate UNCLOS disputes, maritime committees, South China Sea analysis. The International Court of Justice Intermediate ICJ MUN, state-to-state disputes. Take after International Law Basics. The International Criminal Court Intermediate Prosecuting war crimes and genocide. Take after International Law Basics. Treaty-Making and the Law of Treaties Intermediate Drafting and interpreting treaties — useful for MUN resolution-writing too. Digital Rights & Privacy Intermediate Tech policy, GDPR, surveillance debates. Comparative Criminal Justice Intermediate Comparing policing, prosecution, and prisons across countries.
Economics & Trade 📊 International trade, economic policy, development, sanctions, and the global economy.
Recommended order: International Trade → Development Economics → Inequality → Sanctions & Economic Warfare → Global Financial System → specialty topics (China’s Economic Rise, Energy, Climate Economics, Debt & Aid, Tech Future Economy).Course Level Use it for International Trade Beginner Foundation for ECOFIN MUN, trade policy readers. Start here. Development Economics Intermediate SDG-focused MUN, development policy, aid work. Inequality: Global & Local Intermediate Policy analysts, activists, ECOSOC MUN. Sanctions & Economic Warfare Intermediate Russia/Iran/NK analysts, SC MUN, sanctions policy work. The Global Financial System Intermediate IMF/WB/central bank analysis, finance careers. China’s Economic Rise Intermediate China-focused research, US-China tension analysis. Debt, Aid & the Developing World Intermediate Development economics deep-dive — debt crises, aid effectiveness. Economics of Climate Change Intermediate Carbon pricing, green finance. Pair with Climate Diplomacy. Energy Geopolitics Intermediate Oil/gas/renewables politics — essential for Gulf, Russia, and transition debates. Technology & the Future Economy Intermediate AI, automation, platform regulation debates.
News literacy, bias detection, fact-checking, and clear thinking about information.
Recommended order: Reading the News Critically → Fact-Checking → Data Literacy → Logic & Reasoning → Cognitive Biases → Propaganda → Social Media & Democracy → Media Systems Worldwide → AI, Deepfakes → Philosophy of Knowledge.Course Level Use it for Reading the News Critically Beginner Everyone consuming news. Start here for the category. Fact-Checking Beginner Journalists, researchers, anyone citing evidence (including MUN delegates). Data Literacy Beginner Reading charts without being fooled — useful for every topic on Model Diplomat. Introduction to Logic & Reasoning Beginner Debaters, philosophy students, clearer arguers. Foundation for all critical thinking. Cognitive Biases & Decision Making Intermediate Better decisions — applies to negotiation, debate, journalism, leadership. Propaganda & Influence Operations Intermediate Understanding state and non-state influence — info warfare researchers. Social Media & Democracy Intermediate Tech policy, election integrity, platform governance. Media Systems Worldwide Intermediate Comparative media — press freedom, authoritarian media, hybrid regimes. AI, Deepfakes & Future of Truth Intermediate Anyone working in or around AI, journalism, or information ecosystems. Philosophy of Knowledge Advanced Serious students of epistemology. Take after Logic & Reasoning.
History & Current Affairs 📜 Major conflicts, crises, and turning points that shaped the modern world.
Recommended order: Start with WWII and The Cold War for foundation. Decolonization and Fall of the Soviet Union layer on top. Then pick conflict deep-dives based on interest or assigned MUN topic.Course Level Use it for World War II Beginner Foundation for the modern international order. Start here with Cold War. The Cold War Beginner Essential context for almost every current conflict. Pair with WWII. Decolonization Beginner Understanding the Global South and post-1945 independence movements. Fall of the Soviet Union Intermediate Post-1991 geopolitics foundation. Take after Cold War. War on Terror Intermediate 9/11 and post-2001 US foreign policy. Russia-Ukraine War Intermediate Current-affairs essential. Best taken after Cold War + Soviet Fall. Israel-Palestine Conflict Intermediate Current-affairs essential — comprehensive deep-dive (25+ hours). Iran & the Middle East Intermediate Gulf geopolitics, nuclear debate, regional proxy dynamics. Rise of China Intermediate US-China tension, 21st-century power shift. Pair with China’s Economic Rise. Taiwan & the Indo-Pacific Intermediate Cross-strait tensions, great-power war risk. Take after Rise of China. Korean Peninsula Intermediate North Korea crisis, DMZ, nuclear standoff. War in Sudan Intermediate Africa’s largest displacement crisis — essential for AU and humanitarian work.
Leaders & Thinkers 👤 The people and movements that transformed politics, economics, and society.
Recommended order: No strict order — pick based on interest. For movements, start with French Revolution as foundation, then Civil Rights and Anti-Apartheid. For thinkers, Machiavelli → Adam Smith → Marx is a natural intellectual history thread.Course Level Use it for Winston Churchill Beginner WWII leadership, British Empire, modern-world-building figure. Franklin D. Roosevelt Beginner New Deal, WWII, expansion of US executive power. Mahatma Gandhi Beginner Nonviolent resistance, Indian independence, and a contested legacy. Nelson Mandela Beginner Anti-apartheid, reconciliation, moral leadership. Pair with Anti-Apartheid course. The French Revolution Beginner Foundation for modern political ideologies, revolutions, and democratic theory. The Civil Rights Movement Beginner US racial politics, organizing strategy, social movement theory. Niccolo Machiavelli Intermediate Political realism — foundation for IR realism and power analysis. Adam Smith Intermediate Foundation of economics and liberal political thought. Karl Marx Intermediate Understanding capitalism, class, and the most influential political critic of modernity. Margaret Thatcher Intermediate Neoliberalism in practice, late-Cold-War leadership. Deng Xiaoping Intermediate The architect of modern China. Pair with Rise of China. The Anti-Apartheid Movement Intermediate Global solidarity movements, sanctions in practice, and how regimes end.
Catalog summary Category Courses Model United Nations 10 Debate & Speech 10 Professional Skills 10 Elections & Democracy 10 Government & Policy 10 Global Affairs 10 Law & Rights 10 Economics & Trade 10 Media & Critical Thinking 10 History & Current Affairs 12 Leaders & Thinkers 12 Total 114
Every course is 20 lessons. Total library: 2,280 lessons , ~470 hours of structured content.
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